Traffic controlling apparatus for railways



' 1,615,652 1927' w. s. ROBERTS E A TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS Filed May 27, 1926 I v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/GJ.

FIG. 4.

I Dal/aviary.

i/j-fli/mla Jan. 25,1927; 1,615,652

W. S. ROBERTS ET AL v TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAYS Filedl y 27. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 P m: z.

Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNHTEI)" PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER SYDNEY ROBERTS, or 0RMSKIRK, AND JOSEPH HALLAM BU T N; OF LIVER- roOL, ENGLAND, Assreivons or ONE-THIRD TO THE RAILWAY srGivAL coMrAnY LIMITED, OF LONDON; ENGLAND; A CORPORATION OF GREAT BRITAIN.

TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS IEGR RAILWAYS.

Application filed May 27, 1926, Serial no. 112,039, and in Great Britain m 18, 1925.

This invention relates to trafiic controlling apparatus for railways and the like of the kind in which tokens are employed as the authority for a train proceeding over a particular section of the track. I

Systems of control of this character are now extremely well known and comprise essentially control instruments containing the tokens provided at each end of the section of track to be controlled, the delivery of a token from the instrument at one end of the section being arranged to be effected only by the cooperation of an operator at the other instrument. The two instruments are connected by one or more line wires serving to transmit bell or other signals between'the two operators, these wires also transmitting electric current controlling the delivery of tokens from the instruments under predetermined Conditions. I

The tokens employed in such systems are of various different forms such as staffs, tablets and the like, and when delivered from the token instrui'iiien'tsmay in some cases be employed for releasing or operating various elenients or devices all'ecting the trafiic to be controlled such as points, signals, swing bridge operating mechanism, devices for switching out intermediate block sections, and the like. I

As the possession of the token gives full authority for travel Within the section to a train or vehicle, as Well as when inserted in the token instrument enabling another token or tokens to' be obtained from the same or another ii'istrument, it is of primary importance that the token itself should be diliicult to counterfeit, and this is also very nee ssary in order to prevent the devices or elements above referred to when arranged to be actuated by the token, from being improperly operated without the use or the proper token. H I

The form of the token and consequently the form of the aperture in these devices "or elements into which the token inserted should also obviously be such as to prevent the devices or elements from being operated without the use of'a token at all as, for

instance, by pickingthe lock of the device or element. It is found in practice that some forms of token are unsatisfactory in these respects, owing to the simple shape of the token rendering it not difli'cult to reproduce, while the aperture in the devices or elements for the accommodation of the token is of considerable size.

Arrangements have previously been proposed for overcoming the above disadvantages as regards the control elements or devices, by providing these with special forms of key operated locking mechanism of the type embodying spring controlled plungers with corresponding keys, these keys being either attached to or formed on a token of the staff or other usual type, or being sepa rate therefrom but arranged to be rendered available by obtaining a stali or tablet from the token instrument. I I

According to the principal feature of the present invention. the token itself takes the form of a key either wholly or partly, the key token or key portion of the token cooperating with corresponding locking mechanism on the token instrument, whereby the token can only be issued by or returned to the instrument in the case of proper correspondence between the key and the locking mechanism. I I

The individual characteristics of the key and locking mechanism which thus replace those of other forms of token or supplement these, thus provide increased security as thekey form enables a very large number of differentchanges to be readily obtained, and is particularly compact, the locking mechanism on the token instruments being also simple, compact and difiicult to tamper With. I I I I I The invention is illustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawings of which I I Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a token instrument embodying one form of the invention, I

Figure 2 being a view thereof in sectional side elevation.

Figures 3 and a are views in sectional end ures 3 and 1 respectively of the locking 'mechanism of a token instrument in which unidirectional tokens are employed, these figures showing the locking mechanism of the instrument at one end of a section of the track, and

Figures 7 and 8 being corresponding views of the locking mechanism of the instrument at the other end of the track.

Referring now first to the construction shown in Figures .1 to 1 inclusive, which illustrates the invention as applied to a token instrument for absolute working, in which, when a token has been obtained from the instrument at either end of the section, another token cannot be issued until the first token has been returned to one or the other of the instruments, the element controlling the insertion of the token consists of a rotating lock barrel 1 provided with a key hole aperture 2 adapted to accommodate a key token 3 when the latter is being inserted into, or withdrawn from the instrument. The lock barrel 1 also comprises a second key aperture 4 adapted to accommodate a key token when the latter is being trans ferred to or withdrawn from the token receptacle 5 of the instrument. The receptacle 5 is provided with a number of passages 17 to accomninnlate the key tokens, and with suitable ribs 18 for engaging with the token 3 between the collars 6 on the spindle or shank of the token 3, so as to prevent the removal of the tokens directly through the front of the receptacle 5. One of these ribs is cut away as indicated at 19 opposite the aperture 1 in the lock barrel 1 in order to pern'lit a token contained in the receptacle to be inserted into the aperture 4:. It will thus be seen that a token 8 contained in the receptacle is located in one or the other of the passages 17, the corresponding portion of the rib 18 lying between the collars 6 on the token so that it is impossible for the token to be moved axially in either direction. In order to withdraw the token, it is displaced laterally along the passage or passages 17 until the token is opposite an opening 20 (Fig. 1) at the middle of the upper passage 17. The token being moved upwards into the opening 20, the outer collar 6 on the token is then opposite the cut-away portion 19 of the uppermost rib 18 so that the token can now be pushed axially inwards to enter the aperture 4c in the lock barrel. The lock barrel 1 is adapted to rotate within a barrel casing 8, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 1. A portion 9 of the token 3 adapted to enter the aperture in the lock barrel 1 is provided with V-shaped indentations, a rib 10 being provided for preventing the token from being tilted in a vertical plane.

The locking elements of the mechanism comprise a set of spring-controlled plungers 11 arranged in the casing 8, and a corresponding number of aligned locking plungers 12 in the lock barrel 1. The plunger-s 11 and 12 correspond to the key hole aperture 2, a corresponding set of spring controlled plungers 13 and locking plunger-s 1st being provided correspondingly to the key hole aperture The lock barrel 1 is also provided with a set of intermediate plunger-s indicated at 1.). 7

It will be seen that when the key token 3 is inserted in the aperture 2, as shown in Figure 1-, the portion 9 of the token will raise the locking plungers 12 into the position shown in which the lower ends of the plungers 11 are flush with the cylindrical surface of the lock barrel 1, the plungers 13 being moved into a corresponding position by the action of the lower edge of the portion 9 of the key token acting upon the upper ends of the intermediate plungers 15. In these circun'istances the lock barrel 1 is evidently released, and is free to be rotated within the barrel casing 8. 111 a similar manner the insertion of the key token into the key hole aperture 4 will release the plungers 13, and by transmitting movement through the intermediate plungers 15 to the upper plungers 12 will unlock the barrel 1 to permit its rotation. When, however, neither of the key apertures 2, 1 in the bar rel 1 is occupied by a key token the locking plunger-s 11 and 13 will enter the lock barrel 1 and prevent its being rotated. It will be understood that the portion 9 of the key token 3 may be of any desired form other than that illustrated, and may, for example, be provided with notches 0r indentations on both edges, in which case the lengths of the intermediate plungers 15 will be determined accordingly.

The lock barrel 1 when released as above described is rotated. by means of the key token through 180, whereupon the plungers 12 will evidently come opposite to the plunger-s- 13, the plunger-s 14, in turn, coming opposite to the plungers 11. The inner ends of the plunger-s 12 and 14: may be coned or bevelled, as shown, in order to facilitate the insertion and withdrawal of the key token, this construction at the same time facilitating the release of the barrel in spite of slight inaccuracies in the location and formation of the plunger-s and cylindrical apertures in which they operate.

The locking barrel 1 is mounted upon a shaft or spindle 16 by means of which the motion of the barrel is controlled by a locking mechanism, not shown, this mechanism being electrically released by current transmitted from one instrument to the other in the manner usual in connection with token instruments and not forming part of the present invention. Referring now to Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 the invention is illustrated as applied to a token instrument adapted for a uni-directional system of token operation, in which two distinct forms of token are arranged to be employed in each block section, namely, one foreach direction of travel within the section. Assuming a section AB the A instrument comprises a lock barrel 102 (Figs. 5 and 6) and the B instrument a lock barrel 103 (Figs. 7 and 8); the token for the section BA is indicated at 10 i, and as for the section A-B at 105, the two tokens being essentially diiierent from one another. The A-B token is capable of being withdrawn from or returned to the A instrument, but although capable of being inserted in the B instrument cannot be withdrawn therefrom, the reverse conditions applying to the token BA. It will be observed that two of the notches or indentations on the tokens 104:, 105 are similar to one another, for instance the indentations indicated at 106, the other two indentations being transposed so that the indentations 107 are similar to one another, as are the indentations 108. The locking plungers of the lock barrels corresponding to the indentations 108 are omitted in the case of each of the barrels 102, 103, and the lengths of the intermediate plungers in the lock barrels are such that while the token 10% can be inserted into either of the key apertures in the lock barrel 103, and when. thus inserted will free the lock barrel, this key token when inserted in the lower key aperture of the lock barrel 102 will not release the locking plungers corresponding to the upper key aperture. In order to permit, however, the rotation of the lock barrel 103 when the key token 104. is inserted therein, in spite of the locking plungers not being properly operative, a flat groove 109 is provided, so that the barrel 103 in turning in a counter-clockwise direction. will force the plungers into their proper releasing positions. In the event, however, of an attempt being made to rotate the barrel in the opposite direction the plungers will hold the barrel locked and thus prevent the issue of the token. Similar arrangemel'its are provided in the case of the barrel 102 for permitting the insertion of the token 105 into the token receptacle through this barrel, while preventing the rel-issue of this token.

The tokens of which the reissue is prevented as above described are transferred to the other instruments by means of magazines of any suitable construction.

Having now described our invention,

what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In railway traflic controlling apparatus the combination of a token instrument comprising a receptacle for tokens, a plurality of tokens, a rotatable element for transferring one of said tokens from the exterior to the interior of said receptacle, and vice versa, a plurality of locking plungers for controlling the rotation of said element, and means constituted by a portion of each token for releasing said {locking plungers.

2. In railway trafiic controlling apparatus the combination of a token instrument comprising a receptacle for tokens, a plurality of tokens, a rotatable element provided with a pair of key hole apertures, one of said apertures being normally within said receptacle and the other normally without said receptacle, a plurality of locking plungers for controlling the rotation of said element, and means constituted by a portion of each of said tokens for releasing said locking plungers.

3. In railway trafiic controlling apparatus the combination of a token instrument comprising a receptacle for tokens, a rotatable element, a plurality of locking plungers for controlling the rotation of said element, and means constituted by a token in the form of a key for first releasing said locking plungers, and subsequently rotating said element to transfer said token from the exterior to the interior of said receptacle, and vice versa.

4. In railway trafiic controlling apparatus the combination of a. token instrument comprising a receptacle for tokens, a plurality of tokens, a rotatable barrel having an eccentrically located aperture therein for containing one of said tokens, a plurality of locking plungers for retaining said barrel in an angular position in which said aperture is within said receptacle, and means constituted by a portion of said token for releasing said plungers to permit the rotation of said barrel to a position in which said aperture is without said, receptacle.

5. In railway trafiic controlling apparatus the combination of a token instrument comprising a receptacle for tokens, a plurality of tokens, a rotatable barrel provided with a pair of key hole apertures, one of said apertures being normally within said receptacle and the other normally without said, receptacle, two sets of locking plungers for preventing the rotation of said barrel, and corresponding respectively to said apertures, means constituted by each of said tokens for releasing one set of plungers when inserted in one of said apertures, and means operated by said token when thus inserted for indirectly releasing said other set of plungers.

6. In railway trafiic controlling apparatus the combination of a token instrument comprising a receptacle for tokens, a plurality of tokens, each in the form of a key, a rotatable barrel having a pair of eccentrically arranged key hole apertures, a set of locking plungers corresponding to each of said apertures, and a third set of plungers arranged in said barrel intermediate said apertures.

In testimony whereof e have hereunto set our hands.

VALTER SYDNEY ROBERTS. JOSEPH HALLAM BURTON. 

